CFP UK Zombie Conference

Zombies: Walking, Eating and Performance
Location: United Kingdom
Call for Papers Date: 2012-11-20
Date Submitted: 2012-05-22
Announcement ID: 194700

Zombies: Walking, Eating and Performance a one day symposium Plymouth University, UK  on 13 April 2013
CALL FOR PAPERS deadline for proposals: 30 November 2012

The purpose of this symposium is to explore, interrogate and celebrate zombies as a cultural phenomenon through the paradigms of performance, as well as models of performance through the quintessential zombie activities of eating and walking. It will examine the zombie as protagonist, performer, nomad, pilgrim, traveller, tourist, nightmare, underclass and demonstrator. Zombies: Walking, Eating and Performance will consider the derided and resilient figure of the zombie as metaphor and character; the zombie as vehicle for protest and for public self-expression.

Contributors to the Zombies: Walking, Eating and Performance symposium are invited to develop discussions and dialogues around the practice and theory of zombie performance in the context of any media (film, live art, participatory performance, video gaming, comics, etc). Proposals for 20 minute papers in a variety of formats are welcome from performers, practitioners, researchers and any combination therein.

We particularly invite proposals for papers that take an interdisciplinary approach to the living dead, as well as those that reflect on the nature and resonance of the zombie mythos now , rather than historically (although contributors may wish to reference past manifestations to tease out causes and connections).

Possible topics, themes and approaches include (but are not limited to):
 * Contemporary walks of the living dead
 * Acting dead
 * Zombies as consumers
 * The kinaesthetics and proxemics of zombie movement
 * Cross-cultural zombies and their translations
 * The zombie as character
 * The re-presentation of death and resurrection
 * The walking dead versus the running dead
 * Zombies on the streets and in the home
 * Hunger for the living/Feeding off liveness
 * The living dead as protest mechanism
 * Passivity and agency among the living dead
 * Alternative zombies
 * Zombies and taboo
 * Political acts of the contemporary living dead
 * Ethics of survival in zombie landscapes
 * Flesh-eating and consumption as ritual and cultural performance
 * Zombie physiology and other impossible bodies
 * The zombie as social metaphor
 * Collectivism and sociability in zombie flash mobs and parades
 * Zombie gaming and the virtual living dead
 * Remaking space through dead marches

Proposals for performative presentations and video papers are also welcome, as well as papers that combine 'traditional', performative and video elements – but please note that all presentations must be no longer than 20 minutes in length in total. The makers of video papers must be present at the symposium. Performative papers must be possible with limited technical resources.

Full written papers will be reviewed for possible publication in a forthcoming publication, Zombies: Walking, Eating and Performance. More information will be provided to delegates.

 For full details of how to submit a proposal, please visit: http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=38990.

This symposium is being organized by the Theatre, Dance & Performance Research Group at Plymouth University, a constituent of the Research Centre for Humanities, Music & Performing Arts (HuMPA). The organising committee comprises Phil Smith, Roberta Mock, Lee Miller and Kayla Parker.

For more information, please email: livingdead@plymouth.ac.uk.

Prof Roberta Mock Plymouth University 0(1752) 585033
Email: livingdead@plymouth.ac.uk
Visit the website at http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=38990.